A while back I was asked about the Police SACD's. Here are my opinions... Outlandos D'Amour: Abrasive, loud, bright, and fatiguing from the get go. Both the original SACD and SHM-SACD are both the same mastering and are expensive. There is nothing good about this disc at all. You can find the original AM+ for under $5. If you value your money please don't spend $60 on either the original SACD or the SHM-SACD Regatta De Blanc: Somewhat bloated unfocused bass especially apparent on Bring On The Night and Walking On The Moon also too loud and bright overall. Once again you can find the original US stock [same mastering as the 38XB] AM+ for under $5 please don't waste $60 on this poor sounding SACD. The CD layer on my Hybrid disc is even more awful. I am hoping if and when UMG Japan does a SHM-SACD for this album that they do it like Who's Next or Wheel's Of Fire, and not simply re-hash the 'crappy' 2003 SACD masterings like they did for Outlandos and Synchronicity. Zenyatta Mondatta: I never thought this album sounded really good on any format. But this SACD at least equals the best I've ever heard which are the D32Y [unique mastering] and Japan for US mastering [beware the US for US is different]. SACD may even be bit better due to ever so slightly stronger bass but it's nearly a dead heat overall. I wish all the other Police SACD's sounded this good. However the CD layer on my Hybrid is pretty bad. Is this disc worth $50+ when the original AM+ Japan for US CD can be found for $10-12USD is the question? I got the Hybrid version for $29.99 when it was first available. I guess if one can still find for around that price it's worth a shot. Ghost In The Machine: Some of the quieter tracks are OK. Overall it's an average disc at best. Nothing really offensive but nothing outstanding either. Not worth the money as yet again "you can find the original AM+ for under $5USD" no need to fork out an extra $45 or so for this SACD. Please note I think the CD layer on my hybrid is pretty bad. Synchronicity: Nearly as bad as Outlandos, but downright bad in it's own right. Avoid both the SACD and SHM-SACD as they are the same crummy mastering. CD layer on my hybrid almost makes the SACD layer sound decent in compassion - which of course it's not. Huge missed opportunity with the SHM-SACD it could have been epic if they had done it like Who's Next or Wheel's Of Fire - Thanks for nothing UMG Japan! Get the original stock AM+ CD it's very inexpensive and one of the best sounding 80's made CD's. The Japan for US with repeating CSR [2nd 38XB mastering] is even better and with luck you can get for same price. Be aware all other Japan for US pressings are the same mastering as the stock US disc. Only the Sony made CD with the repeating CSR contains the 2nd 38XB mastering. Police Live: I don't really like the sound on this one. I have ROIO's [retroactively made pirates] of both concerts I feel are better. I do think the sound of this SACD is better than Outlandos and Synchronicity, of course it would be hard pressed to be worse.
Boy, just as I completed my discography in SACD... Well, who knows in the future I'll try to go after these AM+ CDs. All I have right now are the SACDs and 'Message in a Box'.
Rick, thanks a lot for the opinion on the SACD's. I only have "Zenyatta Mondatta" and always thought it was actually quite good, and didn't really understand all the bashing of them (I thought the other ones would be similar in quality to "Zenyatta Mondatta"). Now it makes more sense to me. Sounds like the 2nd best of the SACD's is "Ghost in the Machine". Maybe I'll give that one a try if I happen to see it for a reasonable price, just to be able to compare for myself. I think I'll stay clear of the others.
I haven't been pleased with a digital "Ghost in the Machine" at all. I have two different US masterings from before the 90s remaster, and the SACD. None of them sound as good as my original LP.
Which discs do you have. I've said many times before that my USA Denon copy of GITM is my favorite. It's closer to the lp IMO. Don't have any levels to go by just my ears!
Identifying preferred masterings... I have the 2003 remasters of Reggatta de Blanc and Ghost In The Machine (I could tell they didn't sound right as soon as I bought them but that was before I started visiting this site) and would like better masterings. I don't have super critical hearing, so I'm not trying to identify the 'best' but just good masterings. I will be buying at Amazon Marketplace and therefore have to keep identification questions simple. Here's how I think to identify them: 1. Product identification code: CD-3XXX or CD-393XXX. 2. AM+ logo on the disc. 3. Lack of copyright date of 1995 on the disc. Of course these will come in jewel cases, digipaks are 2003 masters only. Any additions or corrections are appreciated!!!! Thanks, Trevor.
ricks I agree with you on all counts, especially Outlandos. That is really a lousy sound mastering. Only exception I have is Regatta as I never picked up that SACD, was more than content standing pat with the original CD and my Vinyl. Wish that kind of excellent write-up had been available before I purchased the SACD's [and SHM-SACD's]. Keep up the good fight against overpriced terrible sounding media my brother!
Hi, I like to start off by saying this is a great thread. I wish there were more on this forum that were as friendly and informative. I have the 2003 Outlandos SACD. When I first listened to it, I was very dissapointed. It simply did not sound good. I tested it against my original CD, and was shocked at how much the Hi-Res SACD pailed in comparision. Guess mastering may be as important as format? Your description of this SACD "nails it". I also have the Syncronicity SACD. As disspointing as Outlandos was, this was worse. The SACD was mastered by an old hero of mine, Bob Ludwig. I figured this had to be excellent as after all he did my Syncronicity vinyl, with the RL in the deadwax, which I always considered the gold standard. Boy was I wrong, the SACD is rotton sounding. My MFSL CD also blew it away. The RL vinyl remains my go to copy. Once again you nailed it with your description of SACD. Glad I never got the other SACD's, but after reading your description I may give Zenyatta Mondatta a shot, as my vinyl has nearly had it. As the previous poster said "Keep up the good fight".
Just picked up a copy of Synchronicity. It's an early DADC pressing with no barcode on back insert. I have never come across one of these before. My other copies are WG for US, WG for Europe, and a later DADC copy w/o embossing in the hub. It's a CRC disc with DIDY-1 on the back cover but in the matrix of the disc is DIDX-1.
Thanks, ricks. Up until a few days I only had two CDs by the Police in my collection: the AM+ versions of Synchronicity and Zenyatta Mondatta. Before reading through this thread, I was thinking about picking up the remasters or searching for more expensive SACDs. After reading through this, though, I found Like New / near mint copies of the AM+ versions of Regatta De Blanc, Outlanders D'Amor and Ghost in the Machine for a grand total of $15 (including shipping fees) from Amazon Marketplace dealers. Ghost in the Machine arrived today. Wasn't sure what to expect, but I just put it in my player and it sounds absolutely fantastic. I'm not sure how this could be improved upon. Sometimes I think that some of the 80s original CDs lack in the bass and drums department, but both of these instruments sound incredible on this version of this album (now I see why Police fans rave about Stewart Copeland's drumming). Had I known how wonderful the sound was, I would have been willing to pay a lot more than $1.50 plus shipping. Anyway, thanks for saving me a bunch of time and cash. I'm hoping that the other two sound nearly as great when they show up. (P.S. I put my AM+ Synchronicity in yesterday for the first time in a while and found that, just as you state, it sounds terrific as well).
Just want to say this is an amazing thread - thanks for all this great info! I came here because just today I went used CD shopping for the first time in a long time, and picked up an AM+ GITM for only $4, and immediately noticed that it slayed my 2003 remaster version. DR Meter says the original has DR in the 13-15 area whereas the remaster is 9-12. After reading this thread I poked around some more and it turns out the one I got is a Columbia (CRC) club edition, DIDX-000002 matrix (but DIDY on disc label and rear insert). The actual mastering is the ".977 level-shifted WG" mastering. Thanks again for all the great info!
Hey, I've got and Australian pressed GITM, Disctronics disc AM+ 393 730-2. I think Disctronics were one of the first, if not the first, local CD manufacturing plants in Australia. So I feel this is before the first official remasters appeared. None of the levels match what I've seen so far ...... 100.0 / 93.4 / 100.0 / 90.9 / 85.9 / 79.9 / 86.3 / 75.1 / 71.8 / 80.3 / 80.6 And it sounds
I don't think I've ever owned the A&M CD's from 1990. I used to have the "Message" box and then sold it, and now I have the SACD's and rips of the 2003 digipak releases. So I ordered a few of the A&M's used from Amazon -- they can be had, shipped, for under $4 apiece. Not bad. I should have them later this week and then I'm going to do some comparisons of my favorite songs.
Nice score John! A lot of CRC CDs do not have a UPC code and they carry the original masterings. Some are even unique/preferred masterings like Aqualung.
I keep trying to purchase these AM+ CDs, I only got Outlandos and Reggatta so far. But it's hard, because very few people state is the CD is AM+ or not.
I own the MiAB set and have been happy with it but after reading in about 7 pages of this thread I decided to take a chance and hop over to Amazon where I found all 5 of the original cd issues. $11 for all 5 ain't bad at all.
Zenyatta: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-list...?ie=UTF8&qid=1328016743&sr=1-3&condition=used Ghost: http://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Machine...=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1328016936&sr=1-1 Synchronicity: http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-list...0&sr=1-1&seller=&colid=&condition=collectible
If the disc has the original U.S. catalog number, it should have the AM+ logo. Also, a lot of eBay sellers show pictures these days. Just avoid the few U.S. issues with CD-33XX catalog numbers. Those have the "aad" logo in place of AM+.
Hi Norm - Thank you for the kind words! Knowing that I saved at least one person good coin makes me think my posts have been worthwhile. Glad you got the best sounding discs [IMHO]. Rick P.S. I am neither a champion of low or high priced discs, just what I think is better without $ bias.
So far I have Reggatta CD-4792 US for US and Zenyatta US for US CD-3720 and I'm good on those. I have an Outlandos that is a CD-3311 with aad and no AM+ and is a BMG club version. Am i safe with this one? It sounds like it should be an early mastering. I have the box set but lost disc's 1 and 2 so I have nothing to compare it to. It appears to sound similar to the others but it might be my mind playing tricks on me. Still waiting for Synchronicity and Ghost in the machine to arrive.
So far I have Reggatta CD-4792 US for US and Zenyatta US for US CD-3720 and I'm good on those. I have an Outlandos that is a CD-3311 with aad and no AM+ and is a BMG club version. Am i safe with this one? It sounds like it should be an early mastering. I have the box set but lost disc's 1 and 2 so I have nothing to compare it to. It appears to sound similar to the others but it might be my mind playing tricks on me. Still waiting for Synchronicity and Ghost in the machine to arrive.
Can you post the EAC levels for yours, because my favourite version of Outlandos is a US for US and does not have AM+ on the disc, has AAD and is DIDX28 CD-3311. The bar code is 0 7502-13311-2 Here are the EAC levels. 86.3 %, 95.8 %, 97.7 %, 97.7 %, 79.9 %, 97.7 %, 86.7 %, 97.7 %, 83.3 %, 97.7 %
Although those numbers seem familiar to me they are not on the chart. Are you able to post a pic of the disc itself and the tray art? If so and it's not a remaster I'll come out of retirement for one more update. - oh and will need the matrix as well.
